As the days start getting warmer, Ocean County officials warn residents to be aware of ticks and tick borne illnesses such as Lyme disease.

“In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that 95 percent of Lyme disease cases were reported in 14 states including New Jersey,” said Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, who is also liaison to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service. “County agencies are working together to educate and raise awareness so we can keep the number of tick borne illness incidents low.”

The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies believes 2017 could be a bad year – a “forbidding forecast”– for Lyme disease, based on a large acorn crop in 2015 leading to an increase in the white-footed mouse population. Feeding on infected mice is a primary way ticks pick up Lyme and other diseases.

Lyme disease is spread by the blacklegged tick (deer tick) which can be found on the shrubby understory of the forest, in high grassy areas and in open fields. Ticks tend to favor the thick undergrowth of shrubs and small trees because they prefer cool, moist woodlands.

According to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet FS443 “Preventing Tick Bites: Prevent Lyme Disease,” about 20 to 45 percent of Ocean County, about 20 to 45 percent of blacklegged ticks in New Jersey (depending on the life stage and where they are found) are infected with and are able to transmit Lyme disease. More than 70 percent of Lyme disease cases occur from the bite of ticks in the nymph stage – which is the size of a poppy seed.

“When spending time outdoors it’s very important to be vigilant of tick bites,” Vicari said.

Transmission of Lyme disease is mainly during the warmer months, but as long as temperatures are above freezing, blacklegged ticks are active the entire year.

“One of the most important things we can do is take precautions that help reduce the chance of becoming infected with any tick-borne infection,” said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Health Department.

The Ocean County Health Department suggests that people take the following precautions to keep ticks off their skin:

•Walk on cleared trails and stay in the center of a trail to minimize contact with leaf litter, brush and high grasses where ticks are likely to be found.
•Minimize the amount of exposed skin. Wear thick white socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck the pant legs into the socks, so ticks cannot crawl up the inside of the pants. Wearing light-colored clothing also makes it easier to see ticks. If you see any ticks while still outside, remove them immediately before going indoors.
•Golfers walking through brushy areas should be aware of ticks.
•Apply repellents to skin and clothing; read and follow the label instructions.
•Products that contain DEET can be directly applied to exposed skin and to clothing to help keep ticks away. The product label will give details about how to apply the repellent and how to use it safely on children.
•Permethrin (hunter-grade) products can be applied to clothing/boots/shoes (NOT TO SKIN) and actually kill ticks on contact with the treated clothing. This is usually effective on clothing through several washings. If you find a tick on yourself, your child or your pet:
• After outdoor activities, be sure to check your body for ticks and remove any immediately. Use a hand-held mirror to thoroughly view all parts of the body. Check children and pets for ticks, also.
•Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
•Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers.
•After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
•It is important to remember that a tick must feed for at least 24 hours before they can begin to transmit the Lyme disease bacterium
•Avoid folklore remedies such as “painting” the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. More information on ticks, and preventing tick bites can be obtained by calling the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office at 732-349-1246, or visit the Extension Office website at http://ocean.njaes.rutgers.edu or by visiting the Ocean County Health Department website at www.ochd.org.
• Health officials also recommend if you find a tick, place it in a sealed container with a slightly damp (with water, not alcohol) piece of paper towel.

You may take the tick to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension located at 1623 Whitesville Road, (at the corner of Whitesville Road and Sunset Avenue), Toms River, to be identified. Tick experts are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday to identify ticks. If the tick is identified as a black-legged tick, the staff will make recommendations according to the CDC. The Rutgers Extension also has a listing of labs that the tick can be sent to for testing.